Vertically aligned food cans



Nov. 27, 1962 R LOEWY 3,065,558

VERTICALLY ALIGNED FOOD CANS Filed Dec. '7, 1960 IN V EN TOR. RA YMO/VD L OE W) B Y Q! rka; 54%, 548.54, 564% {Jul/in United States Filed Dec. 7, 1960, Ser. No. 74,295 3 Claims. (Cl. 403tl6) My present invention relates to food containers or cans and more particularly to food cans so constructed and arranged that patterns or designs on vertically adjacent cans will match to produce a decorative column of cans in a food store while at the same time each can surface has the complete information necessary for that particular can and a decoration which, by itself, although part of a larger pattern, will be an appropriate decoration for the can.

The primary object of my invention is the arrangement of the decorative and informative design of a food can in such manner that it will be vertically alignable with related decorations on adjacent cans to produce a continuous pattern; and the arrangement of the cans so that such vertical alignment will be facilitated.

These and other objects of my invention will become apparent in the following description and drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical elevation partially in crosssection of two vertically aligned cans according to my invention.

FIGURE 2 is a bottom view of one of the cans taken from line 2r'2 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a top view of one of the cans taken from line 3-3 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURES 4, 5, 6 and 7 are vertical elevations of vertically aligned cans having different designs.

Referring first to FIGURE 1, each of the cans 10 and 11 has an upper recessed surface 12 and a lower projecting surface 13 so arranged that it will readily nest in the upper recessed surface 12 of the can below. This facilitates the vertical arrangement of the cans so that a vertical column is formed which is less likely to be disarranged than the columns of cans usually formed where the upper and lower surfaces of the cans are identical. The upper can 10 (see also FIGURE is provided with a decoration 15 which may be matched with the decoration 16 on the lower can 11 so that a continuous pattern is formed between the two vertically aligned cans.

This combined pattern achieved by the juxtaposition of two cans may be repeated throughout the column by appropriate arrangement of the decoration or insignia, as shown in FIGURE 4, where the decorative elements 18 and 19 on each of the individual cans are symmetrical top and bottom to reproduce a repetitive design throughout the vertical column.

In addition, a composite insignia or decoration may be formed, as for instance shown in FIGURE 6, where the upper can 20 has one half of the image of a sauce pan 21 containing peas and the lower can 22 has the other half of the image 23 of the sauce pan. The opposite side of can 20 would then have the decorative image 23 extending to its upper surface and the opposite side of can 22 would have the decorative image 21 extending adjacent its lower surface, so that each of the cans in the vertical column can be arranged to produce a continuous repetitive pattern. This pattern may be achieved in arranging the cans vertically in the store by merely rotating the cans as they are placed one on top of the other to obtain the appropriate vertical alignment of the images.

It is possible also to ensure such vertical alignment by appropriate detents and extensions on meeting surfaces to create the desired angular relation between the images on vertically aligned cans. An example of such means of obtaining the appropriate angular relation between the vertically aligned cans, is shown in FIGURES l, 2 and 3 3,%5,558 Patented Nov. 27, 1962 where the upper surface 12 of each can in the column is provided with a raised or embossed portion 25, which is preferably triangular in cross section, and the lower surface 13 of each can in the column is provided with a similarly shaped indentation or depression 26. The irregularity of the shape of each of the elements 25 and 26 ensures that they will register at only one relative angular position of the two vertically adjacent cans.

Where the construction of the can is such (as by lithographing the metal of the can) that there is always a positive relation between the registering element 25 and 26 and the can decoration, then the vertical alignment of the decorations may readily be obtained in this fashion.

Where, however, a less expensive can is formed with a paper wrapper on the can containing the vertically alignable decorations, then mass production methods may require that the upper wrapper be placed on the can without reference to particular angular registration of the decoration with any particular portion of the can. In such case, the angular alignment elements 25 and 26 may be dispensed with and reliance may be placed on the individual storekeeper to visually obtain this vertical alignment.

It will be obvious that while the triangular indentation 26 and recessed portion 25-provide a very simple method of obtaining angular registration, other means for this purpose, such as an eccentrically located embossment and a similarly located indentation on an opposite surface, may as readily be used.

In the foregoing I have described my invention solely in connection with illustrative embodiments thereof. Since many variations and modifications of my invention will now be obvious to those skilled in the art, I prefer to be bound not by the specific disclosures herein contained but only by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A pair of vertically alignable containers, each container having indicia and at least one decorative element; the decorative element on each container being arranged, on angular registration of the containers with respect to each other, to form a composite unified decoration; a first surface of each container having a recess and an opposite surface having an extension; the recess of the first surface of one container being adapted to receive the extension of the opposite surface of the other container; at least a portion of each of said recess and said extension being located at an eccentric position with respect to the axes of their respective containers and at a location with respect to its associated surface corresponding to each other, so that said decorative elements are brought into register to effect a continuous design.

2. A pair of vertically alignable containers, each container having indicia and at least one decorative element; the decorative element on each container being arranged, on angular registration of the containers with respect to each other, to form a composite unified decoration; a first surface of each container having a recess and an opposite surface having an extension; the recess of the first surface of one container being adapted to receive the extension of the opposite surface of the other container; said recess and extension being correspondingly irregular to elfect registry thereof at one angular position of one container with respect to the other to eifect a continuous design of said decorative elements as a continuous design.

3. A pair of vertically alignable containers, each container having indicia and at least one decorative element; the decorative element on each container being arranged, on angular registration of the containers with respect to each other, to form a composite unified decoration; a first surface of each container having a recess and an opposite surface having an extension; the recess of the first surface of one container being adapted to receive the extension of the opposite surface of the other container; at least a portion of each of said recess and said extension being located at an eccentric position with respect to the axes of their respective containers and at a location with respect to its associated surface corresponding to each other; one 5 of said surfaces being depressed beneath the edge of the container and the other of said surfaces being extended above the edge of the container, said extended surface on one container being received in the depressed surface of the other container to effect registration of said decora- 10 tive elements as a continuous design.

UNITED STATES PATENTS Cogshall Mar. 31, 1925 Gable May 21, 1940 Moch Oct. 17, 1950 Der Yuen June 9, 1953 Pope Feb. 2, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS France June 12, 1933 France Feb. 10, 1954 Belgium Mar. 31, 1955 

